Groundwater Runoff Leads To Dismal Water Quality Grades At The Beaches

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — There's no longer any need to guess which Long Island Sound beaches have the cleanest water. Save the Sound has released its latest weekly water quality report for the 2024 swimming season.

Save the Sound announced that their seasonal water quality monitoring program started up again this year and the samples are being analyzed by their team in the John and Daria Barry Foundation Water Quality Lab in their Larchmont office. The team collected samples from sites in Westchester County, Greenwich and Queens and brought them back to the lab to test for fecal indicator bacteria.

You can read more about the fecal bacteria water monitoring here.

The fecal indicator bacteria concentration in water at a beach determines whether or not the water is safe for people to swim in. High fecal bacteria counts and associated pathogens in the water can make people ill and can be associated with untreated sewage or increased amounts of polluted stormwater.

2024 Westchester County WQM Results: 8/5 - 8/9:

• Glover Field, Mount Vernon: 10X Fail
• Outfall at Farrell and Beechwood, Mount Vernon: 10X Fail
• Upstream of Farrell and Beechwood, Mount Vernon: 10X Fail
• Pelham Lake at Willson's Wood Park, Mount Vernon: Fail
• Shore Park, Pelham Manor: Pass
• Glen Island Park, New Rochelle: Fail
• Glen Island Approach, New Rochelle: Pass
• Neptune Boat Club, New Rochelle: Pass
• Five Islands Approach at Le Fevres Ln., New Rochelle: Pass
• Five Islands Park on Beach, New Rochelle: Pass
• Premium River at Pryer Manor Rd., New Rochelle: 10X Fail
• Larchmont Harbor at Park Ave., Larchmont: Pass
• Flint Park, Larchmont: Fail
• Sheldrake Lake, New Rochelle: 10X Fail
• Sheldrake River at Bonnie Briar Lane, Mamaroneck: 10X Fail
• Beach Point Club, Mamaroneck Village: 10X Fail
• Harbor Island Beach, Mamaroneck: 10X Fail
• Shore Acres Yacht Club, Mamaroneck Village: 10X Fail
• Mamaroneck Harbor East Basin, Mamaroneck Village: 10X Fail
• Mamaroneck River at Phillips Park Rd., Mamaroneck Village: 10X Fail
• Sheldrake River at Columbus Park, Mamaroneck Village: 10X Fail
• Mamaroneck River at Station Park Rd., Mamaroneck Village: 10X Fail
• Mamaroneck River at North Barry Ave. Ext., Mamaroneck Village: 10X Fail
• Mamaroneck Harbor at Taylor Ln, Mamaroneck Village: 10X Fail
• Otter Creek at S. Barry Ave. Bridge, Mamaroneck Village: 10X Fail
• Guion Creek at South Barry Ave. Bridge, Mamaroneck Village: 10X Fail
• Van Amringe Milpond, Mamaroneck Village: 10X Fail
• Beaver Swamp Brook at Boston Post Rd., Mamaroneck Village: 10X Fail
• Beaver Swamp Brook at Rye Neck HS, Mamaroneck Village: 10X Fail
• Tributary to Beaver Swamp Brook, Harrison: 10X Fail
• Mamaroneck River at Joint Water Works, Mamaroneck Village: 10X Fail
• Mamaroneck River at Saxon Woods Park, Mamaroneck: 10X Fail
• Mamaroneck River at Reynal Rd., White Plains: 10X Fail
• Mamaroneck River at Saxon Woods Rd., White Plains: 10X Fail
• Beaver Swamp Brook at Truxton St., Harrison: 10X Fail
• Beaver Swamp Brook at Greenwood Union Cemetery, Harrison: 10X Fail
• Rye Marshlands Conservancy, Rye: 10X Fail
• Rye Playland Park, Rye: 10X Fail
• Blind Brook at Disbrow Park, Rye: Fail
• Blind Brook at Purchase St., Rye: Fail
• Blind Brook at N. Ridge St. and Ridge Blvd, Rye: Fail
• Playland Lake at Edith Read Natural Park, Rye: Fail
• Blind Brook, Rye Nature Center, Rye: Fail
• Byram River at Columbus Park, Port Chester: No access.

Additional information for each of these sites can be found here.

Save the Sound said that everyone can help reduce sewage pollution sources by conserving water which will lessen the wear-and-tear on the water infrastructure and reduce sewage overflows by lowering the volume of water in the system. The organization also recommends that homeowners repair sewer lines that connect their homes to municipal sewers or maintain their septic systems. Dog owners should put pet waste in the trash and never in a catch basin or on the street. Communities and homeowners can create rain gardens to help reduce runoff. If you see sewage overflowing in your community, you can email a photo or video with details about the time and location to this address.